Overload working method for thermal power plants



May 25, 1943. c. KELLER 2,319,995

OVERLOAD WORKING METHOD FOR THERMAL POWER PLANTS Filed March l6,' 1942 the type in question Patented May 25 1943 I 2,319,995 OVERLOAD 'wonxmo METHOD FOR THERMAL Curt Keller, Zurich,

rowan rmnrs Switzerland, assignor to Aktiengesellschait iuer Technische Studien, Zu-

rich, Switzerland,

a corporation of Switzerland Application March 16, 1942, Serial No.

In Switzerland April 7, 1941 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a methodior the overload working of thermal power plants in which a gaseous Working medium, preferably air, continuously describes a cycle under pressure above atmospheric, whereby the working medium, the temperature of which has been raised by a supply of heat from an outside source, is allowed to expand in at least one turbine while giving up energy externally, after which it is again brought to a higher pressure in at least one turbo-compressor. Hereby the density of the circulating working medium is varied approximately proportionally to the momentary power delivered externally by the turbine.

Power plants of this kind are designed for noror maximum load, whereby the admissible maximum temperatures at given pressures are dependent on the characteristics of the materials to be used. Such plants oiler the unique advantage that the higher outputs required for overload working can be produced by simply raising the pressure level throughout the cycle, the speed oi the turbines thereby remaining unchanged. In order to make use of this circumstance, the temperature of the working medium is, according to the present invention, lowered more and more as the overload increases. Hereby a drop in the eillciency of the thermal power plant during overload working cannot be avoided, since in plants of the overall elilciency is, conditions remain unchanged, on the temperature, the absothe pressure ratio between high and low pressure sections being without influence on the ei'ilciency. n the other hand, the novel working method ensures that also during overload working, i. e. when the pressure level in the cycle is higher thanat normal load, the value of when the other solely dependent lute pressure and at 600 C. is approx. 20% higher than whilst at 550 it is about 83% higher than at 600 C. In the latter case a drop in temperature of 50 C. accordingly permits 01 the pressure level within the cycle being raised by 33%. i

In the accompanying drawing of example a form of a plant for carrying out the new method, whereby it is assumed that air is employed as the working medium.

Reference i denotes a heater, in which heat is supplied to the air describing a cycle ata pressure above atmospheric. This heater i represents the point at which heat from an external source is introduced into the cycle. The actual heating oi the air is effected in a surface heat exchanger 2, around which the combustion gases flow. The air heated in this manner passes to a multi-stage air turbine 3 of the axial flow type in which it expands, hereby giving up energy to a generator 4 and to a turbo-compressor designed as a multistage axial ilow blower 5. The air issuing from the turbine 3passes through piping 0 into a heat exchanger l designed as a. countercurrent apparatus, in which it flows through a system of tubes 9, thereby giving up heat to that part of the working medium which flows through a system of tubes 9. Each tube of the system 8 is surrounded by a tube of the system 9. This latter system is connected by a piping iii to the axial blower 5 and by a piping ii to the suri'ace heat exchanger 2. The expanded air cooled in the heat exchanger l passes through a piping i2 at 650 C.,

into the turbo-compressor ll, wherein it is rethe creep resistance, as valid for the conditions prevailing at normal load, is not exceeded. The greater stressing oi the various parts of the plant due o the higher pressure is compensated by the foregoing lowering of th temperature, which makes higher creep limit admissible. The possibility of overload working whilst the machines run at unchanged speed is, however, in many cases 01' such importance that a somewhat lower eiliciency at part load can readily be accepted. In this connection it is a particularly important advantage that in the ranges of high temperatures (500-700" C.) for which-the method according to this invention is inte'nded, drops in temperature involve a relatively great upward shifting of the creep limits. For example there are special steel alloys'ior which the creep limit compressed to a higher pressure whilst being cooled between the compressor stages. Hereafter the air is forced through the piping l0 into the heat exchanger 1.

The regulation of governing 01' load fluctuations which arise in a plant of the kind described, is eil'ected by changing the density of the working medium describing the closed cycle approximately proportionally to the momentary power given up externally by the turbine I, the speeds oi turbine 3 and compressor 5 being maintained unchanged. Accordingly, the pressure, 1. e. the weight (in kg./sec.) of working medium flowing through the diil'erent points of the closed cycle is changed, the pressures at the different points of the cycle varying thereby approximately proportionally to the momentary power delivered externally bythe turbine, whilst the heat drops and velocities oi flow in the turbine i and compressor 5 remain method of regulation is described in the U. S. A. Patent No. 2,172,910, granted Sept. 12, 1939. Ac-

ls shown by way practically unchanged. Such a cording to said method working medium is temporarily supplied to or withdrawn from the cycle. For this purpose reservoirs ii and is are provided, the reservoir ll being connected to a compressor is, which is driven by motor N and delivers air inhs led from the atmosphere into same. The reservoir ii is further connected by a piping 28 to an inlet valve 2!. On the other hand the reservoir to is connected through a piping 22 to a discharge valve 23 and by means of a piping 2% to the suction piping 2b of the compressor it. According to the adjustment of the valves 2 i, 28, the air flows either the closed cycle or from the latter into the reservoir is. The adiustment of these valves El, 28 which are urged in a closing direction by means of a spring 25 and 2? respectively, is eflected auto= matically in dependence on the momentary power is free to pass a piping delivered externally by the turbine 8. This adiustment can conveniently be efiected by means of an oil pressure control influenced by the governor lid of the turbine 8, or by the governor of the machine ii driven by the turbine 23. This oil pressure control comprises a piping 29 through which a liquid under pressure is supplied. It further comprises a distributingpiston pipings Si, 32. The. piping Si is connected to the space below a piston 538 influenced by the spring 21, whilst the piping 32 is coected to the space below a piston 8 influenced by the spring 2%. A piping 85) which branches 03 from the pipingilZ, is connected to the space below a piston til influenced by a spring 66 This piston til controls the position of a tttle. valve 62, fitted in the piping d3 connecg the heat enchanger 2 to the inlet of the turbine 8. 6t and fromthe reservoir i! into" so; which controls the connection of the piping 29 with two is are outlets provided in thecasing of the distributing piston to through which oil under pressure can flow out of the oil pressure control system. a piping 38, which branches ofi from the piping 02 of the cycle described by the working medium, is connected to the space below a piston it) influenced by a spring $9. The spring Ed is so stressed that the piston will beheld in its lower most position as shown in the'drawing, except when pressure in the circuit rises above the maximum permissible in the normal operating range. M to a lever 522 by a rod 53 apiston 36 and by a rod as a distributing piston 55. The piston 88 influenced by a spring so controls the position of a valve 8? which is fitted in the piping as, through which combustion air is sued to theheater i. This combustion air is forced by a blower Add into a heat exchanger iii, to which the waste gas leaving the heater i is supplied through 58. The nected to an arm so rigidly connected to a yalve 6b which controls the supply of fuel to the burner 82 of the heater 8.

The described means for lowering the term prature of the air describing a closed cycle during overload working of the plant, operate as follows: If the load on the generator ii should increase beyond-normal load, the air turbine 3 has the tendency to run slower. The speed governor 28thereiore movesthe distributing piston that fluid under pressure from p 38 downwards so the'piping 29 can that the valve thepiping 32, so

at is opened and accordingly. air. from the reservoir i! into the closed cycle described by the working medium. The pressure, and accordinglyalso the density flow over to of the air circulating in the closed circuit belever 52 is also operatively con-.

' ent points in the circuit substantially constant comes greater, whereby the total volume flowing past a given point of the cycle in a given time remains the Thus, a rise of pressure also occurs in the piping i2 oi the circuit, this rise being transmitted through piping 48; to the lower side of the piston as. so that the lever 52 is rocked at first in an anti-clockwise senseabout fulcrum or. As a result of this the distributing piston Ed is raised and oil under pressure can thus pass from the piping M to the upper side of the piston 36, so that the valve 31 is lowered and the I combustion air supplied through pipe 38 to the heater i throttled. Owing to the operative connection provided between the lever 52 and the arm 59, the latter is turned in a clockwise sense on the piston 8% being moved downwards. so that the valve 66 also throttles the admission of fuel to the burner 62. Any increase in pressure in the circuit described by the working medium therefore causes practically simultaneously a throttling of the combustion air flowing through piping as and or the fuel passing through valve so, so that the temperature in the heater 9 is lowered. The drop in temperature is thus correlated to the pressure rise in piping id of the circuit described by the working medium.

en overloads have to be dealt with, the novel method is preferably carried out in such a manner that the temperature oi the working medium is reduced sumcientlyto prevent the stresses resulting from the increased working pressure exceeding at any point of the plant the admissible creep limits. This applies to all parts oi the plant and in particular to the auxiliary apparatuses and piping.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of working thermal power plants oi the type in which a gaseous medium, preferably air, continuously describes a cycle under pressure above atmospheric and in which heat is supplied to the working medium from an external source oi heat. and the working medium thus heated is caused to expand in doing external work and is then recompressed in a compressor, and in which the temperatures and r stress the materials almost to their creep limits; said method comprising varying the density of the working medium approximately proportionately to the momentary power delivered externally whilst keeping constant the speeds of the turbine and compressor; neou'sly maintaining the temperatures atdifierwhile the power plant operates within the normal load range: and during operation in the overload range, lowering said temperatures more and more as the overload increases."

2. A method of working thermal power plants of the type in which a gaseous medium. Pr terably air, continuously describes a cycle under pressure above atmospheric and in which heat is supplied to the working medium irom an external source of heat. and the working medium thus heated is caused to expand in a turbine while doing external'worlr and is then recompressed in a compressor, and in which the temperatures and pressures stress the materials almost to their creep limits; said method comprising varying the density of the working medium approximately proportionately to the momentary ered externally whilst keeping constant the speeds ofthe turbine and compressor; simultaneously maintaining the temperatures at diflerbut points inithe circuit substantially constant while the power plant operates within the normal a turbine while simultapower delivrange lowering the temperature thus heated being caused to expand in a turbine while doing external work and being then recompressed in a compressor and again heated; primary speed responsive governing means serving to vary the density of the working medium by supplying and withdrawing working medium to and from the. circuit, while maintaining the temperatures at different points in the circuit substantially constant; and a secondary governor serving in response to excess pressure occasioned by overload, to lower said temperatures by amounts approximately proportional to such excess. w

\ CURT KELLER. 

